Mo goals
VANCOUVER, British Columbia—While Mohamed Salah’s club career is still undecided, he’s building his legacy with Egypt.
Salah scored his 68th goal in international play, a total now just one goal shy of current Egypt coach Hossam Hassan’s career record for the Pharaohs, in a 3-1 World Cup victory on Sunday night over New Zealand.
It was his third World Cup goal after he netted two at the 2018 tournament in Russia. Three goals at the World Cup gives the 34-year-old Salah the most ever for an Egyptian player.
Salah played for Liverpool for nine seasons, winning two Premier League titles and becoming the league’s leading foreign goal scorer. But he had a dip in form this season and amid tensions, announced his contract with the squad would be ended a year early.
His departure from Anfield sparked discussion as to where the striker would be going next. For now, he plays for Egypt with his future plans still uncertain.
Nine goals
While between clubs, Mo Salah has etched his name further into the history books as the captain of the first Egyptian team to win a World Cup match.
“What happened today is history for us as Egyptians,” Salah said. “We see a lot of teams win games, but for us as Egyptian, it doesn’t happen often, first time in history.”
“He’s a good player,” New Zealand captain Chris Wood said. “You have to keep an eye on him.”
The four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner scored nine goals in 10 matches to qualify the Pharaohs for this World Cup. Salah became the career scoring leader in African World Cup qualifying history.
In Miami Gardens, Florida, Cape Verde’s magical start to its first World Cup isn’t over. It might just be getting started.
The tiny island nation that stunned tournament favorite Spain last week did it again against Uruguay on Sunday, coming from behind for a 2-2 draw.
Kevin Pina scored on a free kick for Cape Verde’s first-ever goal in the World Cup, and Helio Varela scored the equalizer for what has become one of the most surprising teams of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Cape Verdean fans who watched their squad pull off one of the stunners of the tournament last week by holding Spain to a scoreless draw continued their celebrations when Pina blasted a strike past diving goalie Fernando Muslera for a 1-0 lead in the 21st.
Maxi Araújo and Agustin Canobbio scored late first-half goals minutes apart to put Uruguay ahead, but Varela, minutes after coming into the game, caught Muslera way off his line for the tying goal in the second half and his first international score.
Varela celebrated by hopping into his teammates’ arms and flexing atop their shoulders as Muslera and other Uruguay players dropped their heads in disappointment.
Breakout stars
It was another special moment for Cape Verde’s Vozinha, who became one of the tournament’s breakout stars after shutting down Spain. The 40-year-old goalie had his mother in the stands for the match; she was unable to attend Cape Verde’s stunning opening draw against Spain because she couldn’t obtain a visa.
It was also the first World Cup match with two starting goalies aged 40-plus. Muslera, who made his 18th World Cup appearance, turned 40 on June 16.
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